Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To worry about favouritism after helping a friend get hired?

35 replies

OneOpenRedShaker · 26/09/2024 15:11

I’m feeling conflicted after a recent decision I made at work. I helped a friend get a job in my company, but now I’m worried about the implications of favouritism and whether it might impact my career or my relationship with other colleagues. Did I make a mistake, and how should I handle any potential fallout?

OP posts:
Staunchlystarling · 26/09/2024 16:16

OneOpenRedShaker · 26/09/2024 15:57

I helped my friend by referring them for a position and supporting them through the interview process. I’m worried that this might come across as favouritism, especially if other colleagues perceive it that way. I really want to maintain good relationships with my team and avoid any potential fallout from this decision.

Show quote history

I’m sorry you’re still not clear. Are you the manager? So you recommended then and the interviewed them or influenced your fellow managers?

Ohnobackagain · 26/09/2024 16:14

@OneOpenRedShaker a referral scheme is exactly that, if friend applied and got job on own merits. Unless friend now reports to you or you were involved in hiring, in which case you just have to have been and continue to be impartial, although others may be sceptical. Presumably, friend is the best candidate and is competent - if not, that’s going to be a problem and you may have made a rod for your own back 🤷🏻‍♀️.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 26/09/2024 16:07

Isn't this just normal behaviour? Why would it be favouritism?

Redcrayons · 26/09/2024 16:05

I recommended someone for a job and gave them some advice for the interview after talking to the hiring manager. My recommendation got him the job. We didn’t work in the same dept, but I never treated him differently once he was employed.

why would people accuse you of favouritism? I don’t really understand what the issue is. If a colleague had done what you had done, what would you think?

LostOnTheWayToManderley · 26/09/2024 16:03

Also depends on where the person works now they are in the business.

Direct report to you and you helped them get the job - difficult. You will have to cool the friendship outside work to maintain equality within the team at work. Otherwise the team could definitely feel like favouritism could occur in future, or that you’ll be sharing more info with Friend over a bottle of wine than you are with them.

Somewhere else entirely unconnected - doesn’t matter.

Crazyeight · 26/09/2024 15:59

Men never worry about this. Most senior men have based their entire work life around these arrangements.

Original poster
OneOpenRedShaker · 26/09/2024 15:57

Staunchlystarling · 26/09/2024 15:43

You need to be clearer, how exactly did you help. And who is favouring who?

I helped my friend by referring them for a position and supporting them through the interview process. I’m worried that this might come across as favouritism, especially if other colleagues perceive it that way. I really want to maintain good relationships with my team and avoid any potential fallout from this decision.

OP posts:
BeardieWeirdie · 26/09/2024 15:54

I once recommended a friend for a job. I wasn’t involved in the hiring process but I did tell the boss I thought she’d be great. She turned out to be a bloody nightmare and it reflected badly on me. Lesson learned, never again.

Staunchlystarling · 26/09/2024 15:43

You need to be clearer, how exactly did you help. And who is favouring who?

takealettermsjones · 26/09/2024 15:42

It depends what you mean by helped.

Used the company referral scheme and recommended a name - fine.

Got involved with the hiring process, shared company information with friend to help them with their application/interview etc - not fine.